Wind advisory forecasts gusts up to 55 mph for Unalaska and Nikolski Thursday night

The National Weather Service office in Anchorage issued a wind advisory for Unalaska and Nikolski early Thursday, calling for south winds of 25 to 40 mph with gusts up to 55 mph.

The advisory runs from 10 pm Thursday to 4 pm Friday. "Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects and a few power outages may result," the advisory said. Forecasters also warned that winds this strong can make travel difficult and urged extra caution.

Forecasters issued a stronger alert to the east. A high wind warning covers the Aleutians East Borough from 10 pm Thursday to 10 pm Friday, with southeast winds of 35 to 50 mph and gusts up to 75 mph possible. The strongest gusts are expected from Akutan to King Cove. That warning says high winds could move loose debris, damage property and cause power outages.

On the water, the weather service marine forecast holds a gale warning for Unalaska Bay on Friday, with south winds of 35 knots and gusts up to 45 knots in the morning. Waters from Unalga Pass to Nikolski on the Bering side are under a gale warning Thursday night and Friday, with south winds reaching 40 knots after midnight and 45 knots Friday. Winds there are forecast to ease to southwest 20 knots Friday night, with seas of 10 feet.

Unalaska and Nikolski have seen several wind alerts this fall. The weather service issued a high wind warning for the two communities from Sept. 24 to 26, with gusts up to 60 mph. An advisory followed on Oct. 4, when Alaska News reported gusts up to 50 mph were forecast. Another advisory on Oct. 8 called for south winds of 35 to 45 mph and gusts up to 55 mph.